Long Island Water Quality Challenge – A STEAM Competition

About the Challenge

An initiative of the Long Island Watershed Program (LIWP), the Long Island Water Quality Challenge (LIWQC) is a competition that promotes project-based learning in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) with a focus on protecting Long Island’s crucial waters by reducing or eliminating pollutants from entering our waterways.

Home to nearly 3 million residents, Long Island is unique in that its drinking water supply comes from the groundwater and is a sole source aquifer, meaning it is the only source of water available to meet the needs of the Island’s population. This makes our water supply especially connected to what happens on the land above it – because pollutants that start on the surface can make their way into the groundwater we drink.

The LIWQC is an opportunity for students in grades 6-12 to play an important role in improving water quality on Long Island by reducing pollutants from entering the waterways both on school grounds and within the community. Stormwater runoff and flooding can transport pollutants contaminants directly into storm drains and waterbodies, without the opportunity for a water treatment facility or soil and plants to filter out excess nutrients, pathogens, and other emerging contaminants.

This year, student teams will create a green infrastructure redesign or other innovative solution to reduce pollutants on school grounds or within the community. Green infrastructure examples include rain gardens and planter boxes, green roofs, permeable pavement, rainwater harvesting, and bioswales – teams can build off an existing idea or create a completely new concept. Student teams will compete with the option of being awarded a grant up to $2,500 to be used for implementation or partial implementation of the winning project design on school grounds. .